why does my cat go outside to eat bushes?

Question
i let my cat outside and he went straight for a bush and started eating it. why?

Answer
Hi Jaizlyn,

Some people used to think that cats received nutrients from the vegetation, but it's been proven that cats can't derive much nutrition from raw plant matter.  Others used to believe cats would eat vegetation if their stomach was upset, either to help calm it, or to induce vomiting.  This also has been disproven for the most part.  The generally agreed upon answer is that cats like the texture and taste of certain plants.  Many cats WILL vomit after eating too much vegetation, but this is because their stomach is not created to digest plant matter.

I would recommend that you try to see whether the plant your cat is nibbling on is toxic or not.  Cats don't know the difference, and while some may only cause vomiting, some can be fatal.  Here is a list of some toxic and some non-toxic plants.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/

Best wishes!

Jessica